Government, city, district and private sector pool 63 billion won to fund six-sector employment push; district mayor signs job-creation plan as first official act
Jongno-gu District Mayor Yu Chan-jong is kicking off his core campaign pledge of "jobs and livelihood vitality" on the first day of the ninth directly elected term by signing the "Jongno-type Job Creation and Commercial District Co-prosperity Plan" as his first official act.
The district is channeling its efforts into a public-private partnership employment project aimed at expanding sustainable jobs linked to private-sector hiring and local industries.
The central government, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the district office and private partners have jointly secured 63 billion won ($40.7 million) to hire 8,000 people over the course of this year.
The district's employment push spans six sectors closely tied to residents' daily lives.
At the center is a care services sector, which circulates caregiving demand and workforce within the community to serve vulnerable groups including the elderly, people with disabilities and self-reliance program participants. Crisis household outreach teams and child and youth community care projects will help close gaps in the welfare safety net.
The environment and safety management sector will expand locally tailored jobs that protect the district's historical and cultural assets and hire personnel to crack down on illegal dumping. The public facilities management sector will deploy community-focused workers to maintain parks, libraries and public squares. The tourism and culture sector will partner with tourism resources in Insadong, Daehangno, Bukchon and Seochon to sharpen the district's competitiveness, with active participation in national and city grant programs to secure additional funding and a renewed push to activate the Jongno Cultural Platform.
The public administration sector will create hands-on positions such as a youth administrative experience corps to build young people's administrative skills. The local specialization and public-private cooperation sector will train skilled workers in the garment and jewelry industries to strengthen local industry competitiveness.
In addition, the district will strengthen job-seeking and startup support through the Jongno Job Plus Center as its hub. Six career counselors at the center will assist residents with employment consultations, resume and cover letter writing, and job-readiness training.
The district will also expand public-private partnership jobs. Social enterprises and pre-certified social enterprises that newly hire vulnerable workers will receive monthly wage subsidies of 500,000 to 900,000 won per person. A program to boost spending on Jongno Love Gift Certificates and public mileage rewards — designed to promote local economic solidarity — will roll out in phases over the next four years.
Starting Tuesday, the district will operate a dedicated "Job Platform" section on its official website, aggregating public and private job listings from partner agencies and external platforms alongside employment training information, making it easier for residents to find work in one place.
Yu visited the Seoul National Cemetery on Tuesday morning before signing the Jongno-type job and commercial district plan as his first official act. His inauguration ceremony is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the main auditorium on the second floor of the Jongno District Community Center.
"I will keep my promise to govern as residents wish, benefit the people of Jongno, and remake Jongno anew," Yu said. "I will steadily turn campaign pledges — starting with job creation and those that touch residents' daily lives — into reality, and I will work at eye level by listening more closely to the voices of residents."
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